HEPATIC STORES OF RETINOL AND RETINYL ESTERS IN ELDERLY PEOPLE

Abstract

Post-mortem concentrations of hepatic retinyl and retinyl esters were determined in 40 subjects aged over 65 years to assess the effects of disease and malnutrition on vitamin A reserves. Three groups of patients (mean age 79.6 years) were studied: (1) previously healthy, (2) chronically ill, (3) chronically ill and wasted. There was no significant difference in height or age between the groups, but group 3 was lighter than both group 1 ( P P P <0.02) with regard to total retinol, retinyl palmitate and total retinyl ester content.